Perch for road-vehicles.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

H. HIGGINQ PERGH FOR ROAD VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1906.

INVEgVTg Q. 5?

WITNESSES ww fl UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

HENRY HIGGIN, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE HIGGIN MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF WESTQ/IRGINIA.

PEROH FOR ROAD-VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HENRY HIGGIN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Newport, in the county of Campbell and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perchesfor Road-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

In the following specification and claims, wherever the word perches isemployed, it is to be understood to include reaches.

The several features of my invention and the various advantagesresulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent fromthe following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawing making a part of this application, and inwhich similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts,Figure lis a view in perspective of a pair of perches each embodying myinvention, and connected at one end to a fifth wheel, and at the otherprovided with the perch sockets. Fig. 2 is a perspective view enlargedof that end portion of either of the perches shown in Fig. 1, which isat the right hand in said Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the said end portion of theperch is shown bottom side up. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, still moreenlarged and nearly full size, of the ,end portion of the perch which isat the right hand in Fig. 1, but in this Fig. 3 the end present in Fig.1 is removed. Fig. 4 shows, on about the same scale as of Fig. 3, theend of a perch containing a slightly modified form of the top of theperch. It is to be noted thatin Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the under side of theperch is uppermost, for the purposes of more explicit illustration. Fig.5 is a view in perspective, on a scale somewhat larger than Fig. of theforward end portions of the perches and of a head block to which theyare joined.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail. The shell of myimproved perch is of metal. This metal is one that under great pressurecan be successfully bent to shape, without weakening it at ordinary easyangles of curvature. When so bent, it will retain its shape and withalis then quite resilient. The flat metal blank is duly cut out to therequisite size and shape. The metal is then bent on both sides, andthere will then be a back B and the sides O, O. The bending alsoincludes bending each of the sides 0, C, out at substantially a rightangle to the plane of the side, thus forming on each side the ledge orshoulder C The bending further includes bending the outer edge of thisledge or shoulder down at right angles to the shoulder O thus formingthe vertical portion C The bending is continued and the outer or freeedge portion of this portion 0 is bent over and up, thereby forming theparts 0 and 0 There is now a space 0 between Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed November 8, 1906- Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Serial No. 342.505.

the parts 0 C O and O This device or shell thus formed I will indicateby the letter D. A second metal blank is now taken and its edges bentdown, so that it is a piece having a back E and side flanges E E Thispiece having been made to a proper size is new combined with the shell Das follows: One of the side flanges E is now inserted in the inclosedspace 0 at one edge of the shell D, and the other of the side flanges Eis inserted in the other of the inclosed spaces O, at the other edge ofthe shell D. The piece E, E", E is now moved along under the respectivespaces O, C, until the rear end of the piece E, E E coincides with therearend of the shell D. The parts 0 C and O at each side are nowcompressed so as to pinch tightly the flange E held within them. Thepart E, E E before mentioned, may be called the brace K. The combinedstructure consisting of the shell D and the brace K united as shown Iterm the perch A. This structure is exceedingly strong and resilient. Itwill stand all of the vertical, lateral and torsional strains to whichroad vehicles which employ perches or reaches are subjected. Whenrelieved from such strain, it will return to its original position.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated the preferred shape of the back. Thisshape does not differ materially from that shown in Fig. 3. It is morerounding, and presents a trifle more attractive appearance.

In the illustrative Figs. 1 and 5, the perches are shown bent up to meetthe headblock.

In Fig. 5, the headblock M is shown as solid and the adjacent ends ofthe perches A and A enter therein.

In Fig, 1, the headblock h 2 is shown asa skeleton framework and theadjacent ends of the perches A and A are connected to a plate M fixed tothis skeleton and made a part of it.

The perches will in ordinary cases pass under the fifth wheel N. Theyare suitably connected to the lugs N of the fifth wheel preferably bybolts N.

The rear ends of the perches A, A may be connected in any suitablemanner and by any suitable connections intermediate or otherwise to therear axle. In the illustration, Figs. 1 and 2, the rear ends of theperches are connected to what are known as perch or reach sockets. Ihave indicated these by the character P. The perch A sets up against theforward extension of the top plate P of the socket and the rear portionof the perch enters between the side flanges P 1? of the socket. Thebolts N connect the socket and the perch together. A convenient mode ofapplying these bolts is by locating a washer R between the ridges(beadings) O O 0', C on the bottom of the brace K. The bolts N extenddown through the perch and the washer, and are each duly secured by anut N in the usual manner.

It is desirable that a filler of wood or other suitable material belocated within and fill the hollow space A within the perch wherever abolt is to pass through the porch. This wooden filler need not beelsewhere used. Thus I prefer to employ a wooden filler at the rear partof the perch which is where those bolts N N pass through to connect theporch to its rear perch socket. Where the perch enters between the sideflanges P P of the socket, it is preferably contracted or compressedsomewhat. Such contractions or compressions A are shown in Fig. 3. Thesecontractions are readily made and the wood filler takes the impressionand retains it. The perch is not weakened by these impressions. The woodfiller is'condensed and apparently strengthened. So also I prefer toemploy a filler in the forward portions of the perch where the samereceives the bolts N" where by it (the perch) is connected to the lifthwheel. And where desired a filler of wood, vulcanized fiber or othermaterial may extend up within the perch to the headblock, when the metalof the perch extends to that place. The perches are preferably continuedto the headblock. But the perch is a useful and a valuable one if itstop at the fifth wheel, and any connection between this end of theperch and the headblock be made as desired. Wooden extensions startingfrom the liller may extend from the ends of the metal perches at thefifth Wheel to the headblock.

As before mentioned, lightness of weight, great strength and greatresiliency in this perch are the primary advantages I derive from thisimproved construction.

What I claim as new, and of my invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is z- 1. A perch consisting of a shell D made of sheet metalbent and consisting of a back B, sides C, C, the latter provided withshoulders C C bent down and over and up forming the parts C, C- and Cinclosing a space C, and a brace K made of sheet metal and having theback E and its edge flanges E E the latter respectively located in thespaces C, C, of the shell 1'), the hollow bead or ridge C, C, C beingclamped tightly upon its adjacent flange Efl substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

A perch consisting of a shell D made of sheet metal bent and consistingof a back B, sides C, C, the latter provided with shoulders C 0-, bentdown and over and up forming the parts C, O, and C inclosing a space Cand a brace K made of sheet metal and having the back E and its edgeflanges E E the latter respectively located in the spaces C, C, of theshell 1), the hollow bead or ridge C, C, (1 being clamped tightly uponits adjacent flange E'-, in combination with a filler, substantially asand for the purposes specified.

HENRY I-IIGGIN.

Attest WM. II. PUGH, K. SMITH.

